The 25 Best Latin Songs of 2025: Staff Picks

At a time when urban artists are experimenting with salsa music, J Balvin joins the wave. “Misterio” — part of his Grammy-nominated album Mixteip — is a standout track in Balvin’s repertoire, featuring salsa legend Gilberto Santa Rosa. Lyrically, it’s about a relationship that failed, but musically, it’s a seductive masterpiece that goes from a smooth reaggetón groove to an exhilarating salsa melody. “Hermano, el amor no es siempre lo que parece. A veces, hay que vivir, y a veces hay que sufrir” (Brother, love isn’t always what it seems. Sometimes you need to live, and sometimes, you need to suffer), Santa Rosa recites before the song’s surprising transition. Both artists premiered the song on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon this summer. — JESSICA ROIZ

A hypnotic fusion of sensual reggaetón and alt-pop experimentation, “centro (aLt)” brings together New York-reared Guatemalan innovator aLex vs aLex (Sofía Insua) and Chicago-based Colombian artist S.3.R (Camilo Medina of Divino Niño) to reimagine rhythm through ecstasy. With guaracha-inspired beats driving its infectious energy, the track invites listeners to get lost in its spellbinding grooves and the effortless blend of bilingual lyrics. Co-written and produced by Medina, “centro (aLt)” expands on aLex vs aLex’s debut EP nyc minute, adding what Medina calls a “looser” and “sweatier” edge. — ISABELA RAYGOZA

True to Greeicy’s unmistakable style, her gentle vocals invite us on a soulful journey steeped in gratitude. The ballad weaves the closeness of voice and guitar notes with shimmering touches, infusing the song with a luminous, modern, and dreamlike atmosphere. Co-written with Rios, SpreadLof and Mike Bahía, “Limonar” opens a door to Greeicy’s heart, gently reminding us of life’s true priorities. — INGRID FAJARDO

Netón Vega kicked off the year with “Loco” — a song that instantly picked up speed on social media and put him on a wider scale. The viral song is a contrast to his signature corridos bélicos sound: it starts off with an ’80s-inspired melody and transitions into a sultry reggaetón track. His deep, husky vocals sing about a guy who’s wanting to hook up with a girl who recently broke up with her boyfriend. “Loco,” Vega’s first venture in urban music, peaked at No. 2 on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart (dated Jan. 11). — J.R.

After first meeting for the 2024 Billboard Latin Women in Music event, where they delivered a powerful performance of “Me Vas a Extrañar,” Arthur Hanlon and Ángela Aguilar joined forces again this year for “Bala Perdida.” The wrenching song of heartbreak — a fusion of huapango, rock, and pop — conveys the feeling of longing for a lost love through the keyboard of the American pianist and the sublime, mighty voice of the Mexican star, with an arrangement that begins almost like a lullaby and builds to a crescendo before exploding into a kind of anthem. Hanlon, who co-wrote “Bala Perdida” with Navi and Nia Skyfer, has said he needed a truly exceptional vocalist. “From the moment I wrote this song, I could only hear it in Ángela’s voice. No one else could bring it to life the way she does,” he said in a statement. We hope this collaboration — which spent 15 weeks on the Billboard Latin Pop Airplay chart — is not their last.—- SIGAL RATNER-ARIAS

Amid the xenophobia of Trump-era ICE raids and the tensions they’ve ignited within immigrant communities, Snow Tha Product turns piercing humor into cultural critique on “Sábado.” Set against the backdrop of a family gathering, the San José rapper unpacks the chaos of identity, politics, and generational clashes with her trademark razor-sharp wit. From the mystery of a Trump-voting relative to biting observations about “no sabo” cousins, colorism, and internalized racism, Snow paints a vivid, satirical portrait of a dysfunctional yet relatable Latinx celebration. Her bilingual delivery and infectious hook make the track both laugh-out-loud funny and deeply thought-provoking, showcasing her ability to tackle heavy topics while keeping things undeniably entertaining. — I.R.

Fragility transforms into melody in “chica de cristal,” where heartbreak melts into just over three captivating minutes of nostalgic dream-pop. Encased in airy steel-string arpeggios and understated drum beats, the Spanish singer occasionally channels the glowing melancholia of ’70s icon Jeanette, her ethereal voice drifting through longing like a cloud. Judeline approaches loss with grace, encapsulating the ache of fading relationships with a blend of understated beauty and haunting sincerity. — I.R.

This is the collaboration we never knew we needed — an irresistible fusion of pop and vallenato that weaves together two musical worlds. Silvestre Dangond, hailing from Colombia, Valledupar, joins forces with Medellín pop darling Sebastián Yatra. “Una Vaina Bien” captures the magic of love and the dreamlike connection that makes everything else fade away. In true Dangond fashion, he pays homage to the legendary Omar Geles, referencing the powerful emotions of the accordionist could infuse into any song, bringing that same passion to this collaboration. The results are a heartwarming hymn that celebrates life’s brightest moments with the person you love most.  — I.F.

“Para Ti,” the sole Spanish-language track on Cuco’s 2025 album Ridin’, may fly under the radar as a deep cut, but it packs a powerful emotional punch. Heartache seeps from every note, serving as a modern homage to the sentimental ballads of yesteryear, inspired by lowrider oldies and legends like Ralfi Pagan and Joe Bataan. With a lush fusion of acoustic and electronic textures, Cuco breathes new life into classic romance, layering dreamy “ooo”s in the choruses with shimmering synths and groovy basslines, courtesy of Sal Samano (Thee Sacred Souls). The result is a bittersweet serenade steeped in nostalgia and raw vulnerability. — I.R.

Emerging Mexican folk singer Macario Martínez went from sweeping the streets to sweeping hearts, capturing the internet’s attention with a TikTok video that struck a chord worldwide. In the viral video, Martinez is dressed in his work uniform and riding in the back of a truck with his coworkers in Mexico City. “Sueña Lindo, Corazón” has since amassed over 50 million views and propelled the 23-year-old into the spotlight. Soon after, he scored a first collab with Eslabon Armado on the song “Esa Noche,” earning him a first appearance on a Billboard chart, debuting at No. 50 on the Hot Latin Songs list in March. Once a street sweeper, Martínez’ journey from trucks to tracks has become a symbol of hope, proving that dreams can rise above the noise. — PAMELA BUSTIOS

During Latin Grammys Week in Las Vegas this fall, Ovy on the Drums proudly told Billboard that “La Plena (W Sound 05)” has been the biggest song of his career, as artist-producer. Indeed, the song has racked over 800 million streams on Spotify since its release this February, reached No. 1 on the Billboard Argentina Hot 100 chart this May, and was nominated for Best Urban/Urban Fusion Performance at the 2025 Latin Grammys. For “La Plena,” the Colombian hitmaker teamed up with Beéle and Colombian online streamer and YouTuber, W Sound, creating a sensual Afrobeats tune about a man who’s telling a girl everything he feels for her. — J.R.

Alma has all the makings of a stirring female anthem, standing tall as a tribute to women’s resilience, self-worth, and an unbreakable spirit. The lyrics serve as a beacon, illuminating the power of inner strength and the journey toward self-empowerment. Throughout the track, dreamy electronic layers wrap around Elena’s sweet vocals like a gentle embrace. Her voice floats effortlessly, striking a delicate balance between vulnerability and unwavering confidence. As the song builds, the chorus blasts with radiant energy, its vibrant melodies uplifting the listener, illuminating the entire track. — I.F.

Driven by an evocative keyboard and sincere, nostalgic lyrics, “Ojalá” showcases Young Miko at her most vulnerable state, singing with deep sensitivity to her ex to not to forget her and wishing them that the next person in their life loves them well. With a melodic, sensual vocal arrangement, this sweet urban ballad — included on her album Do Not Disturb — is unusually intimate for the Puerto Rican artist, who has said she was going through a difficult time in her life when she decided to open up and share personal stories like never before, prioritizing peace, intimacy, and self-expression. “By giving myself that space, songs like these come out, which are very special, and then I realize that it’s okay to talk things out and that it’s okay to accept, embrace, and understand,” she told Billboard Español days before its release. The result is charming and sublime. — S.R.A.

Many songs on the collaborative album Better Late Than Never, with which Romeo Santos and Prince Royce surprised the world, are wonderful, but there’s something about “Dardos” that makes it stand out as a favorite. Musically, it’s a modern bachata with shimmering guitars and a dramatic flair. Lyrically, it strikes like an arrow to the heart, with the “dardos” (darts) representing emotional wounds in a painful yet addictive relationship. “Love me, at least just one CC/ Love me, just a tiny bit, I beg you/ Be careful, don’t take too much advantage/ Proven, you’re poisoned candy,” they sing in the evocative, infectious chorus. The track — which debuted at No. 8 on the Hot Latin Songs chart — exudes sensuality, and the blend of their voices is pure synergy. — S.R.A.

At the turn of 2025, Silvana Estrada surprised her fans with “Como Un Pájaro,” her first release since “Qué Problema” in 2023. This marked the Latin Grammy winner’s debut as a producer, with the song penned during an intensely personal moment. The track delves into themes of profound solitude and the process of healing from loss. Enhanced by string arrangements from Roberto Verástegui and performed by the FAME’S Skopje Studio Orchestra in Macedonia, “Como Un Pájaro” earn Estrada a Latin Grammy nomination in 2025 for best singer-songwriter song. The song is one of 10 on her sophomore album Vendrán Suaves Lluvias. — P.B.

In a year where it is more common to talk about healing the inner child, Argentine singer-songwriter Yami Safdie teams up with Colombian artist Camilo to release her new single “Querida Yo,” a sweet pop ballad. This ode is a tribute to personal empowerment and the hope of overcoming the vulnerabilities we face by choosing to become our greatest strength, conveying the true meaning of faith. As a manifestation, the Argentine singer-songwriter visualized this collaboration in a certain way. Earlier in 2025, Camilo told Billboard how he connected to join this collaboration: “I found it to be a sincere, unpretentious way to have a conversation with yourself.” — I.F.

Based and inspired on their real-life friendship (Ca7riel y Paco Amoroso have been friends since elementary school), “El Día del Amigo” captures that feel-good energy and quirky lyrics that best represents the Argentine artists. In the funk-infused pop song, they sing about the first time they met, having each other’s backs, and how “no hoe” will ever separate them. “El Día del Amigo” — part of their Papota album — won best pop song at the 2025 Latin Grammys, and was up for record of the year and song of the year. — J.R.

After securing the No. 2 spot on Billboard’s year-end Top Latin Albums tally through his debut album, Incómodo, Tito Double P teamed up with cousin Peso Pluma to deliver the explosive “intro,” the first single of the pair’s recently announced collaborative album, Dinastía (Dec. 25). A testament of the cousins’ undeniable chemistry and the mastery in composition of the raw power of their corridos tumbados roots made the track an instant hit. It launched at No. 8 on the Hot Latin Songs chart and the Hot Regional Mexican Songs ranking (dated Dec. 6). The forthcoming set also marks a return to the album releases for Peso Pluma after the widespread success of his 2024 project Éxodo, which spent 12 weeks at No. 1 on the Top Latin Albums chart. — P.B.

Although Manuel Turizo is far too familiar with the genre, we never expected for Música Mexicana star Xavi to also immerse himself in bachata. The surprising collaboration between the tropical genre and Xavi’s signature tumbados románticos sound peaked at No. 1 on the Latin Airplay Chart this summer. Produced by Andy Clay, the sensual tune s a dedication to “la mas chula del barrio” (the most beautiful girl in the block), with a lot of hard-to-decline invitations and exciting promises. “I’m going to steal you, I’m going to maintain you/ A night in Cancun, and the next in Dubai,” Turizo chants, while Xavi also proposes: “Everything you want, my sweetheart/ I’ll even erase the girls I have on Instagram.” — J.R.

 DannyLux’s Leyenda (2025) is a dazzling dark fantasy affair that weaves tales of eternal skies, mermaids, and otherworldly legends through whimsical sierreño constructs. Amid the album’s lush acoustic guitars and poetic storytelling, “Sirena” stands out as a dreamy, intoxicating ode to love and desire. Singing in his signature mellow tone, DannyLux paints a hypnotic portrait of devotion, likening his muse to a mermaid whose eyes glitter like diamonds. The song’s enchanting but flirty verses — “Sirena, ¿quién más sabe de tu existencia? / Otros batos le pondrían precio a tu cuerpo” — capture the ethereal, otherworldly essence of the album. With its blend of regional Mexican instrumentation and soulful, fantasy-laden lyrics, “Sirena” is a shimmering gem in DannyLux’s mesmerizing opus. — I.R.

To sing about continuing to believe in love despite repeated disappointments, Karol G wisely enlisted Mexican romantic ballad icon Marco Antonio Solís. The unexpected collaboration, included on her album Tropicoqueta, captivates from the very first notes, with a steel-string guitar providing a deeply melancholic riff. The Colombian star’s sweet timbre shines alongside Solís’s powerful voice, as they take turns expressing the difficulty of finding true love but the unwavering desire to keep searching. “I want to believe that it’s still possible to love/ And if not, I’ll keep collecting wounds.” Written by Casta, Edgar Barrera, Keytin, and Karol, “Coleccionando Heridas” reached No. 11 on the Hot Latin Songs chart and No. 7 on Latin Airplay. It is, in short, the sweet collaboration we didn’t know we needed. – S.R.A. 

The mesmerizing “Carita Linda” captures an instant connection between two souls who are meeting for the first time, and that deep yearning for eternal love: “Under the stars, the full moon/ You are my calm in this storm/ There are beautiful faces that leave marks/ And yours cannot be erased,” Rauw chants in the lyrics. But beyond its romanticism, sonically, it’s a love letter to Puerto Rico, powered by a hypnotizing fusion of traditional bomba with urban beats. “Carita Linda” marked the first single from Rauw’s Cosa Nuestra: Capítulo 0, a prequel to his Top Latin Albums chart-topping 2024 set, Cosa Nuestra. — J.R.

Rosalía’s delicious diss track is elegant venom. Set to a lilting ¾ waltz beat that begins with plucked guitar before expanding to a baroque-like orchestration, it’s deceptively wicked. Tune out the clever lyrics (his masterpiece, a bra collection; ask him for help and he’ll disappear) and you’d think Rosalía, with help from Yahritza y su Esencia, was singing about high tea. No doubt the nagging question of who this track is about has kept fans guessing and listening. But beyond the tabloid element, “La Perla” is an example of how to eloquently dress someone down without ever resorting to clichés. — LEILA COBO

“Marlboro Rojo” hits like a dose of pure adrenaline. With one of the most electrifying música mexicana leads of the year — topping the Hot Latin Songs chart for over eight weeks — the track captures Fuerza Regida at their gutsiest. JOP’s grit-soaked vocals resound with the conviction of someone who’s lived every lyric, while the musical arrangement — tight tuba, blazing trumpets, tololoche, and guitars — smolders with the intensity of a sonic warning shot. There’s an undeniable nod to the no-frills storytelling style of Chalino Sánchez, grounding the track in música mexicana’s rebellious spirit. And while the group pushes boundaries on 111XPANTIA with experimental banjo and reggaetón hybrids, “Marlboro Rojo” throws it back to their roots, channeling the same unpolished energy and firepower that fueled their rise. It’s unapologetic, hard-hitting, and impossible not to ride to. — I.R.

“Baile Inolvidable” may ostensibly be a danceable salsa track, but its opening bars drive home the longing and melancholy underneath. A six minute opus, it kicks off with a repeating synth motif  over which Bunny yearns for what’s lost — “I thought I’d grow old with you” is the opening line — before giving way to the trumpets heralding the salsa beat. It’s an unexpected turn for a song where joy, love and loss coexist to the beat of live percussion and the thrill of contemporary soneos plus a chorus that assures this will become a new salsa classic. The video of the song, featuring veteran Puerto Rican actor Jacobo Morales, and Bunny himself, is a multi generational celebration of the beloved tradition of dance lessons, which has led to a salsa revival, an accomplishment in and of itself. — L.C.